Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “An Invitation to the Dance” based on Colossians 3:12-17 for the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist on September 23, 2012. In our epistle reading for today, Paul let’s us in on the fact that Christian community is vital for our spiritual health and central to the church’s true life. Christian community is both training and participation in the dance of God.

St. John's celebrated our 2nd anniversary this week.

Almighty and ever living God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for the St. John’s family. Strengthen us in our faithfulness, arouse us in our apathy, and grant us the gift of repentance. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “How to Maintain Spiritual Vitality” based on Colossians 3:5-11 for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost on September 16, 2012. Spiritual vitality requires a lifestyle of repentance. The lifelong process of mortifying sin, or putting sin to death involves a gradual detection process where we are made aware of the particular forms in which sin expresses itself in our lives and those areas are brought into the light for forgiveness, healing, and restoration.

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Christ Our Life” based on Colossians 3:1-4 for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost on September 9, 2012. The resurrection and ascension of Jesus has set the Gospel in motion. Paul is clear that everything necessary for the Christian life is now completed and activated in us because we are “in Christ.”

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Jesus, Our Creator and Redeemer” based on Colossians 1:15-23 for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost on September 2, 2012. This poem underlines the Jewish belief in God as the Creator who enters into covenant with all He has made (Jeremiah 31-33, Psalm 104)—but in a radical new way, identifies Jesus Christ as both Creator and Redeemer.The inseparable link between creation and redemption in the poem brings into focus the cosmic significance of the redemption accomplished in Christ.